his chest crumpled and breathing almost lost its life
distorted mocking faces faded and voices became a diffused rabble throng of noise
amid the dying thoughts he still heard loud His voice
He had predicted this step, of following, where once he had failed
limbs stretched taut--head hanging well below
he hadn't known his Beloved's pain was so
yet he heard again His voice Another shall prepare you and take you where you would not go.

swirling memories marshalled around his Lord
His loving voice rang above his scrambled thoughts and rested well in soul
this loving visage moved toward him once again
his soul reached out to touch the soul of Him whose words had led him there
the struggling strife had found its peace in following faster
a life lost to self and lived daringly for the Master
the voice was heard again amidst the undeserving pain Simon son, of Jonas, follow me.

life ebbed away but not his resolve of soul
he mingled again with his Lord in a mist of thought
amidst the clouds which had shrouded them from that blinding glory
transfigured in life, and now in death, by His glorification on the mount
that day he had firmly fixed the resolve that blended with this choice
he pleaded for an inverted death; unworthy to mirror his Lord's true count
he had known the fear of an awesome God on that day of His voiceThis is my beloved Son, listen to Him.

shameful thoughts fought with long lost guilt
his distant watch of that tree as His life had ebbed away
the denials sneaked back to taunt this dying man's peace
an unseen hand entwined with his and firmly squeezed out fear
back then, a black hopelessness had blotted out the hopes of a dawning day
now, in this dying timelessness he felt Him near
he heard a faint whisper and his Lord saySimon Peter lovest thou me?

through dying thoughts resurrected by his Lord
he drifted again to the shimmering of sun on sea at Galilee
walking again its shores with Him he loved more than life itself
intrigue had first drawn him to follow his Master
that life given him, now drifted away and breathed its last
finally expelled by his glorious cry

JESUS!

Footnote: St Peter is recorded to have died by crucifixion, and that because he didn't feel worthy to die in the same fashion as his Lord had asked to be crucified upside down.

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Even more powerful the second read through-if that can be imagined. Wow this is such an amazing piece. Your description of Peter's resolve mixed with choice is a wonderfully profound example of each of our struggles once we decide to follow our Beloved. Superbly well done!